Abstract: A method of preparing a conjugated polymer which includes: determining a first intermolecular repeat distance and a first tilt angle relative to the translation axis for a guest molecule having a first atom and a second atom; selecting a host molecule having a second intermolecular repeat distance and a second tilt angle relative to the translation axis; synthesizing the host molecule and the guest molecule to form a co-crystal, wherein the first and the second repeat distances and the first and the second tilt angles are about equal so that when said host molecule and said guest molecule are synthesized the first atom and the second atom of adjacent guest molecules are in near van der Waals contact; and polymerizing the co-crystals to form the conjugated polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the guest molecule is a polytriacetylene and the host molecule has an intermolecular repeat distance of from about 6.0 Å to about 8.